My son's voice murmured in my ear, "Father, go with me now." As he spoke,
his voice sounded like the vibration of distant bells. When he touched me
a fire seemed to thrill through my veins. I felt like a boy; a wild,
prankish sensation of freedom possessed me. My body lay upon the ground.
I laughed at it; I could have taken it and tossed it in the air.

"Come, let's go," said I; "don't stay here."

My chief desire was to get out of the house. Like a boy who must fly his
kite, out I would go. I feared I might be caught and taken back if I did
not hasten, and moved toward the door. The seams of that door, which I
had always thought well joined, seemed now to stand twelve inches or more
apart. Every atom of that wood which had appeared so solid to me was now
more porous than any sponge or honey-comb. Out we went through the
crevice. A party of men were standing upon the doorsteps. One put forth
his hand to grasp mine. I laughed aloud when I recognized the person as
James Harper! Another was Richmond; another, one of my associates in the
editorial corps. I was perfectly amazed, and set up a hilarious shout,
which they echoed in great glee. We started forth, a convivial party. The
atmosphere hung in heavy masses around the houses, like the morning mists
about the base of a mountain.

We did not walk on the ground; the air was solid enough to bear us. I
felt that we were rising above the city. My senses seemed magnified. The
comprehension of all I did was very acute. We kept along the earth's
atmosphere for quite a distance.

"Let us sail out," said I, at last.

"We cannot yet; we must wait till we reach the current. If we go outside